Structural column and bracket cap therefor



3Q, 1936 G H N STRUCTURAL COLUMN AND BRACKET CAP THEREFOR Filed NOV. 23,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l REE J 30, 1936. G, H N 2,@46,Ti52

STRUCTURAL COLUMN AND BRACKET CAP THEREFOR Filed Nov. 23, 1931 2 sheetssheet 2 hyafifar jfzfariz y Patented June 30, 1936 UNHTED STATES PATENTOFFIE STRUCTURAL CGLUMN AND BRACKET CAP THEREFOR 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in structural columns and bracketcaps therefor. More especially it has to do with columns of the tubulartype and an improved arrangement for interlocking such columns withnovel bracket caps.

It is common practice to support cross beams upon tubular columns, thelatter being usually reinforced with concrete. The bracket caps mostgenerally used heretofore have comprised a horizontal plate and one ormore vertical bracket members. These have been made as separate piecesand then welded to each other and to the column. So far as I am awarethe major, if not the only, reliance against relative movement betweensuch caps and columns has depended solely upon the efficacy of the weldbetween the several members.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide bracket caps whichcan be conveniently made in one integral piece and to so design andconstruct this cap and the column upon which it is placed that whenfitted together no relative movement between them can occur albeit noweld is made. It is a further object to interlock the cap and columns ina manner which enables the transverse or bending stresses to be appliedfor the most part to the outer surface of the column wall and toreinforce this wall on the inside opposite to where the external forceis applied. Other objects and characteristic features of the inventionwill become apparent as the description develops.

Several embodiments of the improved bracket caps are shown in theaccompanying drawings, in all of which the same principles ofinterlocking and reinforcing are applied, and it is intended that thepatent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claimswhatever features of patentable novelty exist in the inventiondisclosed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a bracket cap adapted for supporting asingle cross beam extending on only one side of a column;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the upper end of a column prepared toreceive the cap of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective of the cap and column of Figures 1 and 2interlocked together;

Figure 4 is an elevation, through the column in section as on line 44 ofFigure 3;

Figures 5, 6, and 7 are similar perspectives of a double bracket cap andcolumn adapted to support a single cross beam extending on both sides ofthe column or separate beams supported on opposite sides of the column;

Figure 8 is a perspective of a column prepared to receive both a doublecap like that shown in Figure 5 and another cap to be arranged at rightangles thereto;

Figure 9 is a perspective of the other cap referred to in the precedingparagraph;

Figure 10 shows the assembly of the column of Figure 8 with the doublecap of Figure 5 and the side cap of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective of a column prepared to receive a double capand two side caps;

Figure 12 shows the column of Figure 11 and the caps assembled;

Figure 13 shows a column prepared to receive both the cap of Figure land the side cap of Figure 9; and

Figure 14 shows the column of Figure 13 with its caps in place.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the bracket cap 5 of Figurel is completely illustrative of the novel one-piece or integralconstruction. The cap shown may be cast from malleable steel or madefrom an ordinary I-beam or what is known in the trade as a Carnegiebeam. If formed from such ordinary beams, the flange 2 of the beam ismerely cut crosswise, while the Web 3 is cut to provide a tongue portion4 that fits nicely within a column 5 (see Fig. 4.) and a bracket portion6 whose lower end engages the outer wall of the column.

Between the lower end of the bracket portion 6 and the tongue 4 is avertical slot 9 into which the wall of the column nicely fits, as seenclearly in Figure 4. The tongue 4 extends appreciably below the end ofthe bracket and across the inside of the column. It accordingly acts asa direct reinforcement for the portion of the wall in the bracket slotthat is pressed upon by the bracket and, because of its greater depth,distributes the forces transmitted through it so as to eliminate anydanger of the column top bending or its side wall buckling.

The column is prepared by forming its top edge I to fit the underside ofthe flange 2 of the bracket, so that when the latter is placed on thecolumn the top surface of the flange and undisturbed portions of thecolumn edge 1 will be in the same plane. There is also provided in thecolumn a slot 8 of appreciable depth in which a substantial portion ofthe web may fit. This is important as it materially improves theresistance to the shearing stresses imposed upon the cap. In manycolumns in use today the top edge of the 'wise displacement whatever.

column'has only to cut throughthe flange plate resting on it but withthe novel bracket here described both the flange of the cap and theportion of theweb in the column slot are together resist- 7 ing theshearing "forces applied. The slot 8 of the column andthe slot 9 of theweb are so arrangedas to be in vertical alignment when the cap is placedon the column the slots being so proportioned in length that one beginswhere the other ends ,thus providing a definite interlocking between thecap and column. This interlocking relation isaugrnented by the nice fitof the cap flange 2 in the prepared edge of the column, and a furtherinterlocking is also achieved by the reinforcing tonguell which extendsinto the column below the slot therein.

When the cap and column are assembled as seen in Figure 3; the nextcolumn section may be placed on the flange 2 of the bracket cap, beingcentered by the usual pin that would extend up- "ward from the hole It).The cross beam to be supported may then be placedalso on the flange, orif the beam-is of greater width than this flange,

an extension plate H (which is suggested by dotted outline) could besecured to the flange and the next column section and the cross beam 'meunted on this plate.

As is'now evident; the bracket cap-and column are definitely interlockedand no relative movement between them can occur. The interengage mentoi'the web with the top edge of the column,

as well as that between the slot of the column and the web and thatbetween the slot of the web andthe column, prevent any rotative or side-And the engagement between the tongue and bracket end of the web withthe inner and outer Walls of the column prevent any tilting or tippingof the cap. Thus a completely interlocked and reinforced junctionbetweenthe cap and column is affected.

'T'ne cap' of Figure 5 is'a double cap of the type already described,the flange 211 being extended andtwo undercut bracket portions 6a beingprovided on both ends. The column edge id is prepared as before exceptthat two slots 8a are made diametrically opposite one another. Whenassembled, as seen in Figure? the bracket portions were on oppositesides of the cchnnn 5a with the tongue 4a inside and the web 2a extend-7 ing outside at both ends.

The cap and column seen in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive comprise a doublecap I .of the type shown in Figure .5 and an offset or' side cap I"shown in Figure 9. This 'has a shortened flange 2b with thecharacteristic bracket portion Eb and a tongue 4bwhich fits between theinner wall of the column 5b and the tongue 4a of the-double cap I. "Thecolumn edge lb is formed as before with an additional slot 811 toaccommodate the web 3b. With this assembly'of Figure 10, sepa rate crossbeams can be supported on three sides of the colLunn, or one 'beam canextend across the column and another be set' at'right angles thereto. a

Figure 12 shows a second side bracket cap I", like that seen in Figure9, added to the assemblage of Figure 10. When two such side caps areused the top edge lo of the column'5c is prepared as in Figure 11, therebeing iour slots 80 in the column and the entire top edge formed toreceive the several webs of the caps.

Figures 13 *and'le show a column 5d prepared to receive a cap like thatfirst described, namely that of Figure l, and a side cap I like that ofFigure 9. These caps are shown on the column in Figure '14. V p 1Although the composite caps shown have their vmembers arranged atrightangles to one another,

it isto be understood that other angular relations may :be attained asdesired. Moreover, although it is a feature to make the flange; bracketportion and tongue in one integral piece, it is nevertheless possible touse separate pieces welded together without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

a I claim: 7 V I l. A tubular column and a bracket cap therefor having aflange portion and a depending web portion; the said column beingrecessed on its upper'edge to receive thelsaid flange and having a aslot in its wall to receive the said web; and the a said web having aslot in which a portion of the columnwall extends and having a tongueextendinfg entirely across the inner space of the column from wall towall and a bracket porti'ondepending below the slotein the column andengaging the outside of the column wall in alignment with the saidtongue. a

2. A tubular column anda bracketcap therefor having a flange portionextending across said column a nd engaging the topedge thereof andhaving :a web portion comprising a tongue extending into said columnentirely ,across'the space between opposite Walls thereof; and anothercap adapted to be set at an angle to the first said GEORGE H. DEAN.

cap; each said web portion having a slot to re-

